PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR EUROPEAN FUNDS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROGRAMME EU Commission Endorses Positive Preliminary Assessment of Malta’s Third Payment Request Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

The European Commission has issued a favourable preliminary assessment of Malta’s third payment request, amounting to €48.7 million, under the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility – the central instrument of the NextGenerationEU initiative. This development marks a significant milestone in Malta’s ongoing implementation of its national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Malta’s RRP amounts to €328.2 million and includes a broad range of projects aimed at building a greener, more digital, and more resilient economy.

The Commission’s assessment, based on Malta’s submission on 12 December 2024, confirms that all 24 milestones and targets required for this payment have been successfully achieved. These cover a broad mix of reforms and investments – 15 and 9 respectively – aimed at improving the quality of life for Maltese citizens and supporting the country’s economic transition. Key areas addressed include improved access to free public transport, the strengthening of digital competencies, and enhanced anti-money laundering frameworks. Investments also target modernisation in healthcare and justice through digital tools, as well as cleaner mobility via electric vehicle procurement.

Among the standout initiatives are the rollout of a neonatal hearing screening programme designed to detect early hearing loss in infants and to provide timely required interventions, and the construction of a near carbon-neutral school that serves as a benchmark for sustainable building practices in the education sector. This school project aims to demonstrate innovative approaches to air quality, energy efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy.

“This approval is the result of ongoing work to make the best use of the funds obtained from the European Union,” said Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. The minister went on to say that the government is committed to ensuring that EU funds are translated into projects that benefit our country and its people.

The Commission has now referred its preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which is expected to provide its opinion within four weeks. The disbursement of funds will follow the EFC’s opinion and the Commission’s subsequent formal payment decision.